Chad Mendes
UFC 2011–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 85.0
Scouting report
An NCAA Division I All-American wrestler out of Cal Poly and Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Chad "Money" Mendes was a featherweight title challenger known for power double-legs and a heavy overhand right. He is from Hanford, California, and fought Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor for the title, with an athletic base backed by a 92 Wrestling rating, 88 Boxing, and 85 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
After dropping a title challenge to Jose Aldo in early 2012, Mendes went on a four-fight knockout run, stopping Cody McKenzie, Yaotzin Meza, Darren Elkins, and Clay Guida with power punches. His NCAA Division I wrestling base, right hand, and physical strength are reflected in an 92 Wrestling and 86 Boxing score during this run through the division rankings.
In 2014, Mendes pushed Jose Aldo to a five-round decision loss at UFC 179 in Rio, then knocked out Ricardo Lamas in round one. Stepping in on short notice at UFC 189 in July 2015, he faced Conor McGregor for the interim belt, leading with wrestling before getting stopped in round two. His top control and developed striking justify his 92 Wrestling and 88 Boxing.
Following a knockout loss to Frankie Edgar in late 2015, Mendes served a two-year USADA suspension through 2016 and 2017 and did not compete. His wrestling pedigree and power-punching threat maintained his rating benchmark, including an 92 Wrestling and 88 Boxing, across the database for this period.
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Chad Mendes enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2010 and 2017. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Chad Mendes is regarded by the MMA community, with the EA Sports UFC games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Chad Mendes's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below.